Accelerating Adaptive Action Programme
Unlocking actions to build a climate adaptive Yorkshire and the Humber
The Accelerating Adaptive Action Programme aims to accelerate climate adaptation actions across Yorkshire and the Humber.
The impacts of climate change are not confined to remote parts of the world or things that will happen way into the future – they are unfolding now in Yorkshire and the Humber.
Extreme weather events have already impacted our communities and will continue to do so at an increasing rate and magnitude: in 2022, temperatures exceeded 40oC for the first time; our region is estimated to be the most flood-vulnerable in England; and the Humber could experience sea level rise of 1.3m in the next 100 years.
Decisions about infrastructure planning, extreme event preparedness, public health and future food security are often made at regional and local level. To become more resilient as a region, we need to work together to better understand the risks, to prepare for disruptive events, and to deliver initiatives that help us adapt.
The programme has three core objectives that cut across the various workstreams:
- Discover the now: establish regional baselines
Build baselines for the five workstreams in the region through gathering targeted evidence. Collate indicators for monitoring and evaluation.
- Prioritise and act now
Prioritise and implement climate adaptation actions that are within reach given existing resources. - Unlock further climate adaptation actions
Explore what resources can be leveraged/mobilised to unlock further adaptation actions.
Project workstreams
Extending the existing successful Climate Adaptation Programme for Local Authorities (CAPLA) to the private sector and other organisations and exploring joined up working between actors and sectors across the region.
Gathering the evidence (data, case studies etc) that helps build a picture of the climate risks for the region, vulnerability hotspots, opportunities linked with climate risks. For example, mapping climate vulnerable communities for heat, floods etc; community experience of past weather events.
Exploring what adaptive societies are, collating examples of successful climate adaptation and exploring potential for their replication. Understanding the role that climate adaptation policies play in enabling resilience and responsiveness to change.
Exploring and clarifying the public and private responsibilities for climate adaptation in the region. For example, where does the role of Local Authorities start/end in preparing for/protecting communities for climate risks?
Researching how climate adaptation actions could be financed, from public and private sources, and using the economic costs of past extreme events in the region to help build a business case for investment.
Our evidence base
Our journey so far: from discovery to actions
From 2021-2024, the Commission’s work on adaptation focussed on developing a better understanding of existing adaptation initiatives in the region, exploring where the potential stumbling blocks to actions are, creating safe spaces for stakeholders to have conversations on climate adaptation and on building the capacity of organisations (particularly local authorities) to mainstream climate adaptation in their decision-making processes.
We also developed four short discussion papers [LINK] and carried out public consultation on four adaptation-related topics (emergency planning and response, infrastructure, health and business). Read more on how are responding to public views [link to blog]
The insights from this first phase of work on climate adaptation have been key to shaping the workstreams of this programme and future activity to help the region become more resilient.
Example comments from our consultations:
“Are we sure that senior political and executive figures are sufficiently aware and committed in this campaign? Or are they just nodding it through without endorsing and funding it emphatically?”
“Education, education, education – We need to educate people in society to think about their every day actions and how it impacts on the region’s resilience.”
“The importance of local plans and development plans considering climate change impacts before being approved, e.g., not allowing construction of residential properties in areas liable to flooding now and under the future climate change scenarios, making sure houses built now are fit for the future.”
“High level planning is required, but there is a danger that all we will get is paper plans when we need local on the ground action now. Incidents do not form an orderly queue waiting for us to get ready, they occur when they occur. Get something in place at local level, if it needs to change/evolve so be it, but if an incident happens at least something can be done..”
Further reading
Unlocking climate adaptation in local authorities
Read more arrow right
Get involved
